What Is a Hero?

Earlier today, Cressida Leyshon moderated a kaffeeklatsch (which is apparently German for “event with lots of delicious mini-bagels”) with Donald Antrim, A. M. Homes, George Saunders, and Gary Shteyngart, on the topic of heroes and anti-heroes. For those who couldn’t be there, here’s a helpful key to the differences between the two:

Superman: Hero

Superman drinking a 30 rack of cheap beer: Anti-hero

My grandfather who served in the Second World War: Hero

My other grandfather who served in the Korean War: Anti-hero

The guy at my gym who wears spandex but doesn’t care what people think: Hero

The guy who wears an Insane Clown Posse t-shirt at my gym: Anti-hero

Abraham Lincoln: Hero

Abe Lincoln in a dark office taking a long drag from his unfiltered cigarette, looking a sexy woman in the eyes and saying, “Yeah, sure, doll face, I’ll take care of your problem. But it’ll cost ya”: Anti-hero

An oblong roll filled with various meats, cheeses, vegetables, spices, and sauces: Hero

Bread stuffed inside a slab of ham: Anti-hero

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